Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's acting president and late president Hugo Chavez's designated successor, won a narrow victory in the April 14 presidential elections. Maduro secured 50.66 percent and opposition candidate Henrique Capriles 49.07 percent of the votes, according to the official tally.

Maduro is heavily influenced by Chavez and has said that oil, finance and international relations make up the political road map Chavez has left to him. His path, however, is full of challenges both on the domestic and foreign fronts. His government's primary task now is to ensure political and social stability in the country. But with a strengthened opposition, social and political confrontations have increased and are having a serious impact on the country's stability.

Chavez, given his charisma and leadership qualities, was in control of the government, parliament and local authorities through the ruling United Socialist Party and his political allies, many of whom were from the armed forces, within a democratic framework. In contrast, Maduro has to deal with the differences among the various political groups within the Chavez camp as well as the opposition to stabilize the political situation in the country.